DML kit problem

AhhAh...got it to work... just on the wrong topic page.

Disregard the shuttle cockpit... doesn't have to do with this discussion.

http://rongeorge.com/albums/working/Cockpit_4.jpg

Hmmm....

Well, that's one of DML's later reissues of one of the old Trimaster kits. The vast majority of the parts can be found in any of the variants released by either TM or DML. Perhaps that's the problem, old beat-up molds, and the plastic problem. Could also be the injection molding process they use. Cooling problems? I dunno fersher. Toad would know about all that stuff better than I. Toad, you out there?

Another thing I've thought of, the single seat 262 kits had their fuselage halves molded in two parts so as to provide flexibility in producing several variants. When swapping the mold pieces back and forth, the resulting pieces are not always perfectly formed or aligned. (Remember the AMT P-40's? UGLY!) This could be one additional problem in your kit.

Anyhoo, the 262 that I've started is an original DML release. And maybe that's why I've had few problems. Dunno what more to say!

When I heard of the new Tamiya kits I was contemplating replacing most of my DML 262's, but that's kinda impractical. (Who am I gonna find to buy a dozen old DML kits when there's nicer Tamiya kits available? ) Besides, many of the variants aren't available from Tamiya. (Yet!)

It's a good thing I plan on doing some abandoned and beat-to-hell Luftwaffe aircraft dioramas! These might just be perfect for that job!


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I am building the Me262 A-1a/U-4 with the huge 50mm cannon. I would have to say that almost everything has problems fitting. One of the wings was warped, the cannon didn't sit inside the nose strait, I couldn't get the cockpit tub to fit properlly with the forwad and aft bulkheads and the engine nacelles gave me some trouble fitting tot he wings... oh, and the wings didn't join to the fuselage very well.

Let me sum it all up, but saying I think I might end up doubling the weight of the model with the amount of superglue I have been using. The unfortunate thing about it all, is because I have had to do so much filling, I have sanded away many of the nice details that the kit has. Sounds like this may be an extreme example, but I don't see a point in spending money on another DML kit if all the detail I expected is withered away just getting the kit to look right.

What exactly are you having problems with?

One common complaint I've read/seen/heard from various reviewers was the bad fit of the nose panels over the cannon. The one that I've started has this problem also.

I've only run across one fella who said that he had really bad fit problems with the engine nacelles, fuselage to wing fit, etc.

I think it's the age of the molds and the quality (read: lack thereof) of the plastic that Dragon used/uses. Even though their kits have excellent detail, the molds are old and tired which can cause warping and distortion. Also, the plastic they use is kinda weird. It's not as...solid as most other plastic. I can't describe this too well...

Anyhoo, I think it's luck of the draw. If you have some of the earlier issues of the Dragon kits then they may not be so bad. The 262 that I've worked on has great fit everywhere except the nose panels.


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